Today we’d like to introduce you to Dots One.
Dots One, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hi, my name is Dots One and I’m a San Diego born and raised artist. I’m heavily influenced by my hardworking and extremely creative mother, my nana, and the street artists I call family. I challenge myself in different mediums to create magic that people of all backgrounds can experience, interpret, and enjoy. Starting off in 2010, I was given the name Dots as a joke, but I fell in love with the name a ran with it.
It was a tuff road, but after many nights of “I can’t do this” moments, I broke away from the small characters and began to show the world DotsOne. Entering this new scene of art shows I was able to display my art at The Heart of Lucha in 2010 hosted by Ruben Torres, founder of the do-good organization called Love Thy Neighbor which provide clothes and toys to the children in Tijuana. It left me with an itch for more.
For the next two years, I pushed myself, practiced everyday, and continued with the name DotsOne. Acrylic paints, paint markers, Sakura Pens, rubber stamps, stencils, watercolors felt work, and even latte art became an essential part of my new lifestyle as I continued to explore my creative side. As I continue to grow today I’ve taken the things I’ve learned from my Nana, my Tia and especially my Mother about being your own vendor.
With Handmade by Boby, an all-around craftswoman, floral crown maker and my Mother, I’ve participated in events for Dia De Los Muertos all around San Diego since 2013. I participated in the For Love of Pixar show in 2016 and the Heart of Boxing with Ruben Torres in 2017. I’ve had the pleasure of having pop-up shops with Peggy Chill, a collage maker and amazing crafter, and the beautiful Irie Iye of Brujitax Del Barrio.
A female collective that helps the community by providing self-care thru art, apothecary, and crystals. I’ve worked with The Chicano Art Gallery for The Day Of The Muse hosted by the woman of Queendom Tribe in 2015 and the Brujitax Del Barrio’s Magical Manifestion Art/ Fundraiser show in 2018. Thru my art, I’ve learned to love and appreciate myself and accept that my art is my magic.
I challenge myself each time I set forth on a new creative journey and its allowed me to spread positivity with my art. My goal is to connect with many more different artists and magical workers as much as I can. I want to use my artistic connections and help others with “Connecting the Dot” not just within my community, but everywhere in the world. Everything starts with a dot…
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. There have been plenty of “what am I doing” and “I give up” moments. There was a time that I was living in my car, and yet, I still managed to take my pens and books everywhere.
Other times, I didn’t have anything, but I had surrounded myself with so many artists in different mediums, and I feel like that really shaped my mind into what it is now. I felt the urge to “keep up,” and graffiti wasn’t my strong suit.
Letters were so challenging, and I found myself just doodling half the time. Eventually, those doodles became my marks. My way of saying Dots has Been Here.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is Dots.One
I am an artist specializing in acrylic painting, line work and mandalas, felt work, and pop up shops. I love working with geometric patterns that relate with conscious art. I love bright colors, galaxy, and space and anything relating to healing energy.
What makes me most proud of my brand is that everything you see is all produced by myself. I’ve taught myself how to create patterns and lines to create unique mandalas for logos and flyers. I love that my work can provide some type of happiness in someone’s life, to me that’s my magic.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like San Diego is a perfect location for me. I was born and raised in Chula Vista, and as an adult I’ve life from Downtown to the suburbs of Eastlake. In each location I flourished and indulged in every detail. It allowed me to appreciate everything that life has to give me and I was only exploring the world in my hometown.
San Diego has such a wide range of cultures and I’ve learned to indulge and embrace everything this city has taught me. Just like my city, my art is diverse and I want it to be for everyone. No matter who they are.
Contact Info:
- Website: DotsOne.com
- Email: dottiedone@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dots.one/
Image Credit:
PeggyChill., KariforniaLove
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